Photographer's Note

This is my latest offering depicting the essence of daily life, a street food vendor plying his trade in and around Jember, East Java. Food are often taken around on pushcarts and sometimes are also carried across the shoulder on a yoke, while others set up impromptu stalls balancing a board on a couple of stools. This was taken in a rather difficult circumstances and my aim was to focus just on one person and isolating the rest to make it simpler. Needless to say after much observation, the woman customer was my prime target while enjoying her yummy meal of piping hot 'bakso' or beef balls noodle soup.

'Bakso' pronounced 'buck-soh' a savoury soup is almost synonymous to Indonesia and probably the national street food, a popular dish sold from pushcarts to hungry students, housewives, midnight revellers and just about anybody who wants a satisfying snack any time of day. Inexpensive and widely available in every single neighbourhood and street corner of the country.

Like many dishes that bubble up through the masses, 'bakso' has endless variations. The meatballs - which vary in size from golf balls to tennis balls - can be made with beef, chicken or even fish. 'Sabar' means 'be patience' - most likely not a vendor's name- a clear indication as to how popular this particular 'bakso' is.

You wont be suprised to come across a puchcart boldly painted with name such as 'Bakso Tennis'

Hello Abmdsudi
Simple and stark, close-cropped to perfection; hints of graphism and hints of human nature. The blue background makes a fortuitous curtain of colour which does not distract from the subjects. I remember the bakso carts from a trip through Indonesia many years ago. I appreciate your note on the topic. Thanks for finding this photo for us in your archives - 2008; it's already 'old' in the world of 'now'.
Regards,
Andrew

Hi Abmdsudi
Your note is cool, how great to learn of a new food and I am a little hungry at your description. I really like the angle that the cart is at, showing as being an impromptu place, there to serve and then gone. A brilliant idea to include the woman enjoying her meal, the whole scene looks so perfectly natural. Really nicely observed and captured.
All the best
Noel

Hello Abmdsudi,
The location is amusing and very well chosen. The blue wall looks like a curtain behind a stage, making this view look like from a theater play. If this had been Singapore the owner of the stall could have been fined for the rubbish :-). You had an excellent idea for the composiion to focus only on the cart and the woman. It's difficult to achieve this in an ordinary street where people are passing by all the time and other customers would get closer at any moment.
Kind regards,
Gert

This is a super shot Abmdsudi. The deep blue backdrop makes a wonderful uninterrupted 'curtain' against which the story is told. To my mind the shot has a theatricality about it .... I've only now read Gert's comment and it seems as if we are of one mind here! A special shot with a unique feel and look. Warm regards Rosemary

Hello Abmdsudi,
at first glance I thought the lady was the vendor taking a break and appreciating her food and stall:) A superb candid picture that is simple in its composition but also has a theatrical quality (the blue backdrop reminds me of a stage curtain:) An interesting daily life scene that is both informative and amusing. I like very much how the stall and the lady stand out through your excellent lighting and colour management. Her expression makes such an important contribution to the significance and appeal of the scene. Congratulations and thank you!
All the best, have a great day,
Ourania

Greetings.
An interesting article about the street vendors of food, with the given data ...
A good time recording, contrast, beautiful colors.
Good work, beautiful moment shown.
All the best for the weekend.
Good luck.
Paja.

You're capturing well yhis scene by a good composition and excellent tone/clarity, so it's interesting and impressive to see the food stall using pushcarts and the woman customer who is eating beef balls noodle soup by sitting chair. It looks like familiar spectacle in dayly life. The whole is unified by a bright and clear color tones. And, it's interesting that pushcarts is easy to move.

Hello Abmdsudi,
there is too many of these carts in india, here it is much more refined and therefore also more hygienic, good framing and details, beautiful colors, funny expression of the woman...
have a good sunday...
Valter

Hello Abmdsudi,
keen eye and your creativity provides us again so magnificent and interesting daily-life shot!
Looks on the first glance simple,but it conveys so well the atmosphere of this moment and the feelings of the woman.And what´s also very important and also eye-catching for us-the strong graphics with vivid colors and good contrast,which helps you to make the scene even more captivating and expressive.
Superb observation!

Hello Abmdsudi,
nice the street photography with the food vendor to eat her lunch,having this excellent deep blue backdrop.I like the whole scenery with the shot to be taken the most decisive moment.Excellent the light and colour management enhance the details and the quality of the scene.

Traveling food vendors seems to be everywhere even on the streets of Las Vegas. This is a very nice documentation of the daily life of people and in the 3rd world countries it is a necessary means of supporting a family. Good pov and dof with nice details. Well done, tfs.

Hello Abmdsudi,
Excellent snapshot of eating woman and her small food stall. The things are very well arranged in tightly cropped frame, in very good light. Your straight POV is also very good. Nicely done.
Wish you a very nice week.
Greetings,
Miro

Hi Abmdusdi,
I suppose, reading your interesting note, you have waited for a long time to take this picture to frame just this woman and the stall. You did well ! The simplicity enhances this scene of daily life. Excellent sharpness.
Regards,
Delphine

Hello Abmdsudi,
This is really superb piece of street photography. I love the simple BG in that saturated blue colour. The lady and the cart are very well psoitioned and fill the frame very well. The clarity is excellent.
Kind Regards, Ann

Hi Abmdsudi,
This is an exquisite photo with deep colors, excellent geometric shapes and wonderful composition. What I am wondering is whether you instructed the lady to look at the pushcart of if it was a cnadid photo. In either case, her gaze at the pushcart has made this photo.
Regards,
MT

Hi abmdsudi !!
to me...the customer eating the Bakso has already eaten too many !!!! .... she look a bit like one !!!! jokes aside...... this is a very good capture with a nice blue colour as a backdrop.
I have seen more primitive stalls in my life...... this one has some technological innovations.
Happy 2014 with many photo opportunities for you
kind regards
Gus